Balanchine (USA)
April 16, 1991 – February 18, 2021
Storm Bird (CAN) x Morning Devotion (USA), by Affirmed (USA)
Family 4-k
April 16, 1991 – February 18, 2021
Storm Bird (CAN) x Morning Devotion (USA), by Affirmed (USA)
Family 4-k
When she lined up for the 1994 Energizer Oaks Stakes (ENG-G1), Balanchine was one of just six horses in the fledgling Godolphin racing program and was the stable’s primary hope for major honors. She came through in smashing style, winning the Oaks and then overpowering a field for the Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) that included Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) runner-up King’s Theatre. King’s Theatre franked the form later in the summer by winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (ENG-G1), and Balanchine was acclaimed the year’s best European 3-year-old filly. Unfortunately, severe colic cut her season short, and although she came back from emergency surgery to race again at 4, she did not show the same form and retired after three starts. She was a disappointing broodmare but has a daughter and a number of granddaughters still in production.
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$850,380 (includes converted earnings from England, France, and Ireland)
1994
1995:
Honors
Cartier Award, European champion 3-year-old filly (1994)
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 92 pounds at 2 and 131 pounds at 3.
In 1994, highweighted in Ireland over 11-13.5F.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Balanchine as second only to Bosra Sham among fillies trained in Britain in the 1990s and as the 14th-best among British-trained fillies of the 20th century.
As an individual
A good-sized, strong, attractive chestnut mare, Balanchine possessed a powerful turn of foot. Her three-year-old season was cut short by severe colic, necessitating emergency surgery, and she was not the same filly when she returned to the races at age 4.
As a producer
Balanchine produced 11 named foals, of which 10 started and four won. Her best runner was the 1999 Woodman gelding Gulf News, who was Group 2-placed in France. Unfortunately, she produced only three fillies, and the only one remaining in production is her 2012 Street Cry daughter Balsamine.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Balanchine was bred by Robert Sangster’s Swettenham Stud. After she won her two juvenile starts impressively for Sangster and trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, she was purchased privately by Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum of Dubai for his Godolphin Racing. She was trained by Hilal Ibrahim at 3 and by Saeed bin Suroor at 4. She was pensioned from broodmare duty after she produced a Street Cry foal that died in 2014 and was retired to Gainsborough Stud in Kentucky, where she died in February 2021.
Pedigree notes
Balanchine is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. She is a half sister to 1998 Sagitta Jockey Club Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Romanov, 2010 Serbian champion older male Giant Love (by Giant’s Causeway), and 1992 Cheveley Park Stud Sun Chariot Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Red Slippers (by Nureyev), dam of 2007 Prix de Diane Hermes (French Oaks, FR-G1) winner West Wind (by Machiavellian) and listed stakes winner Redbridge (by Alleged) and second dam of two-time Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Thunder Snow, English Group 2 winner Ihtimal, and English Group 3 winner First Victory. Balanchine is also a half sister to Subtle Breeze (by Storm Cat), dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Trust in a Gust (by Keep the Faith), and to stakes-placed First Night (by Sadler’s Wells), second dam of Australian Group 3 winner Havana Cooler. In addition, Balanchine is a half sister to Alleged Devotion (by Alleged), dam of 1995 Honeybee Stakes (USA-G3) winner Humble Eight (by Seattle Battle), Irish listed stakes winners April Starlight (by Storm Bird) and Royal Devotion (by Sadler’s Wells), and English listed stakes winner Thady Quill (by Nureyev). Alleged Devotion is also the second dam of 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Sovereign and 2024 Betfred St. Leger Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Jan Brueghel and Japanese Group 2 winners Go for the Summit and Shonan Mighty, and she is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Phola and Grade 3 winner Duke of Love.
Balanchine is out of Group 3-placed Morning Devotion, a half sister to Out Too Late (by Future Storm), dam of multiple Irish Group 1 winner Saoirse Abu (by Mr. Greeley) and to Purify (by Fappiano), dam of Grade 2 winner Radu Cool (by Carnivalay) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Most Distinguished. Morning Devotion is also a half sister to Pacheca (by Storm Creek), dam of listed stakes winner Indy Wildcat (by A.P. Indy) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Leave the Light On, and to Morningsurprice (by Future Storm), second dam of 2009 Golden Jubilee Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Art Connoisseur.
Morning Devotion and her sisters, in turn, are out of the unplaced Prince John mare Morning Has Broken, a half sister to 1978 American co-champion 2-year-old filly It’s in the Air (by Mr. Prospector). It’s in the Air is the dam of French Group 2 winner Bitooh (by Seattle Slew), listed stakes winner Monaassabaat (by Zilzal), and restricted stakes winner Air Dancer (by Northern Dancer); the second dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winners Music Note, Musical Chimes, and Storming Home; and the third dam of 2012 ATC Metropolitan Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Glencadam Gold, 2010 Coolmore Classic Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Alverta, 2021 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Mystic Guide, multiple Grade/Group 1 winner State of Rest, and Grade/Group 3 winners Aerobatics, Dubai Prince, and Gershwin. Returning to Morning Has Broken, she is also a half sister to listed stakes-placed Strictly Raised (by Raise a Native), third dam of Australian Group 2 winner Rock Me Baby. Morning Has Broken and her sisters are out of the winning Francis S. mare A Wind is Rising, a half sister to 1971 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Native Royalty (by Raise a Native).
Books and media
Horse Racing Ireland’s review of Balanchine’s Irish Derby triumph can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40g5ewNnntk.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 14, 2024
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$850,380 (includes converted earnings from England, France, and Ireland)
1994
- Won Energizer Oaks Stakes (ENG-G1, 12FT, Epsom)
- Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1, 12FT, The Curragh)
- 2nd One Thousand Guineas Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
1995:
- 2nd Prix Foy (FR-G3, 2400mT, Longchamp)
Honors
Cartier Award, European champion 3-year-old filly (1994)
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 92 pounds at 2 and 131 pounds at 3.
In 1994, highweighted in Ireland over 11-13.5F.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Balanchine as second only to Bosra Sham among fillies trained in Britain in the 1990s and as the 14th-best among British-trained fillies of the 20th century.
As an individual
A good-sized, strong, attractive chestnut mare, Balanchine possessed a powerful turn of foot. Her three-year-old season was cut short by severe colic, necessitating emergency surgery, and she was not the same filly when she returned to the races at age 4.
As a producer
Balanchine produced 11 named foals, of which 10 started and four won. Her best runner was the 1999 Woodman gelding Gulf News, who was Group 2-placed in France. Unfortunately, she produced only three fillies, and the only one remaining in production is her 2012 Street Cry daughter Balsamine.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Balanchine was bred by Robert Sangster’s Swettenham Stud. After she won her two juvenile starts impressively for Sangster and trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, she was purchased privately by Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum of Dubai for his Godolphin Racing. She was trained by Hilal Ibrahim at 3 and by Saeed bin Suroor at 4. She was pensioned from broodmare duty after she produced a Street Cry foal that died in 2014 and was retired to Gainsborough Stud in Kentucky, where she died in February 2021.
Pedigree notes
Balanchine is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. She is a half sister to 1998 Sagitta Jockey Club Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Romanov, 2010 Serbian champion older male Giant Love (by Giant’s Causeway), and 1992 Cheveley Park Stud Sun Chariot Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Red Slippers (by Nureyev), dam of 2007 Prix de Diane Hermes (French Oaks, FR-G1) winner West Wind (by Machiavellian) and listed stakes winner Redbridge (by Alleged) and second dam of two-time Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Thunder Snow, English Group 2 winner Ihtimal, and English Group 3 winner First Victory. Balanchine is also a half sister to Subtle Breeze (by Storm Cat), dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Trust in a Gust (by Keep the Faith), and to stakes-placed First Night (by Sadler’s Wells), second dam of Australian Group 3 winner Havana Cooler. In addition, Balanchine is a half sister to Alleged Devotion (by Alleged), dam of 1995 Honeybee Stakes (USA-G3) winner Humble Eight (by Seattle Battle), Irish listed stakes winners April Starlight (by Storm Bird) and Royal Devotion (by Sadler’s Wells), and English listed stakes winner Thady Quill (by Nureyev). Alleged Devotion is also the second dam of 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Sovereign and 2024 Betfred St. Leger Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Jan Brueghel and Japanese Group 2 winners Go for the Summit and Shonan Mighty, and she is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Phola and Grade 3 winner Duke of Love.
Balanchine is out of Group 3-placed Morning Devotion, a half sister to Out Too Late (by Future Storm), dam of multiple Irish Group 1 winner Saoirse Abu (by Mr. Greeley) and to Purify (by Fappiano), dam of Grade 2 winner Radu Cool (by Carnivalay) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Most Distinguished. Morning Devotion is also a half sister to Pacheca (by Storm Creek), dam of listed stakes winner Indy Wildcat (by A.P. Indy) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Leave the Light On, and to Morningsurprice (by Future Storm), second dam of 2009 Golden Jubilee Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Art Connoisseur.
Morning Devotion and her sisters, in turn, are out of the unplaced Prince John mare Morning Has Broken, a half sister to 1978 American co-champion 2-year-old filly It’s in the Air (by Mr. Prospector). It’s in the Air is the dam of French Group 2 winner Bitooh (by Seattle Slew), listed stakes winner Monaassabaat (by Zilzal), and restricted stakes winner Air Dancer (by Northern Dancer); the second dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winners Music Note, Musical Chimes, and Storming Home; and the third dam of 2012 ATC Metropolitan Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Glencadam Gold, 2010 Coolmore Classic Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Alverta, 2021 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Mystic Guide, multiple Grade/Group 1 winner State of Rest, and Grade/Group 3 winners Aerobatics, Dubai Prince, and Gershwin. Returning to Morning Has Broken, she is also a half sister to listed stakes-placed Strictly Raised (by Raise a Native), third dam of Australian Group 2 winner Rock Me Baby. Morning Has Broken and her sisters are out of the winning Francis S. mare A Wind is Rising, a half sister to 1971 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Native Royalty (by Raise a Native).
Books and media
Horse Racing Ireland’s review of Balanchine’s Irish Derby triumph can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40g5ewNnntk.
Fun facts
- Balanchine was named in honor of George Balanchine, a Russian-born choreographer who is considered the father of ballet in the United States.
- Balanchine was the first Classic winner for Godolphin and for superstar jockey Frankie Dettori. She was also the first European Classic winner to demonstrate that horses could be wintered in Dubai before going on to success in Europe’s top races for 3-year-olds.
- Balanchine is the namesake for a Group 2 stakes for fillies and mares at Meydan in Dubai. She is also the namesake for a Group stakes for fillies at The Curragh in Ireland.
Last updated: September 14, 2024